Word Quilt for 2016: "Re-Home"

"Re-Home" is 10 1/2" x 27".

This is my 2016 word. It means I need to clean out my house and re-home a bunch of my stuff.

After living in the same house for 32 years and having 4 kids grow up here, we have too much stuff left behind. Time to move it out!!!

This was fun to piece and I started with a huge rectangle of "snow fabric" under the R to represent the Blizzard of 2016 storm named "Jonas" that dumped about 26" on us.

See the words "100% Happy"?

And a palm tree, of course!

The O block was found in my scrap bin so it is now re-homed!

I always add people to my fun quilts. The Whos are merrily singing.

I machine quilted this mini from the back side following the fabric pattern.

My sewing machine sits in front of the window so I can watch weather and critters.

Now this quilt has found a home over my sewing window.

(Excuse the chandelier. My sewing studio used to be a dining room...years ago!!) 

Who needs a dining room anyway?

Our road has been plowed. Would anyone like to help shovel the driveway?

This could take weeks...but the weather is going to warm up and melt a bunch of it...

Eventually...

Linking to Finish it Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Allietare vs Monster Blizzard "Jonas"

The Washington DC Metro area is expecting a HUGE BLIZZARD.

I think the latest snow expected at our house is 20" - 30".

The biggest one storm total in history here is 28"!!

The weathermen are confident!

"Crippling" travel conditions on Saturday.

So.. I'm going to sew my Allietare mystery quilt blocks together while we still have power.

See the little RED DOT in the center of MD? That's me.

Corners and borders next...... 

We DO still have power so I'm working hard.

At 10:00am on Saturday we had almost 22".

My 24" ruler IS going to get covered so I put the yard stick in the snow too.

Of course there is blowing snow too so who knows what the exact total is.

Done! 82" x 96"!

Great colors for the Allietare Mystery quilt.

My yellow centered stars are positively GLOWING!

Sasha HATES this snow.

As of 3:00 Saturday we are up to 26" and another 8" is expected.....

But I finished the quilt top and we haven't lost power yet. Yay!

Stay warm under a quilt.

Linking to Finish it Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Back to Mystery Monday Link Up at Quiltville.

Clue 6: 50 blocks made

The final clue to the 2016 Allietare Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter was posted New Year's Eve. This clue shows the final quilt and what the blocks look like. My guess from last week was spot on! My only problem is that when I laid the block pieces on my DARK rug I liked the stars with the dark center better than the yellow center that Bonnie chose for the pattern.

This is the lovely dark center.

These yellow centers are ok but.....

See my 50 blocks all done?

My final quilt will have 8 yellow centered blocks and 22 black centered blocks.

There are 20 alternate blocks finished also.

Sasha now wants to go for a walk!

So this was the GUESS layout missing the center of the blocks.

(The rug is really dark green.)

This is about what all yellow centers would look like.

This has a mixture of both black and yellow.

The yellow chain is still visible linking the black stars so I made lots of black stars.

Stay tuned for my final reveal. I'll work on the rest once I get back home.

Back to Mystery Monday Link Up.

Clue 5- Allietare Mystery vs Rambo

Busy holidays plus head cold equals zero energy for sewing.

I spent all my energy on visiting with family and babysitting the adorable rambunctious Rambo.

This is clue 5 for the Allietare Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter.

After making a few blocks this could be the "alternate block" which there will be 20 of.

I still like this for the "primary block" which there will be 30 of.

They look nice together.

This is Rambo holding a bone as big as he is.

This is Rambo taunting Sasha with a tennis ball.

Finally some down time as they sleep on the couch together.

Oops! This block has a mouth!

Done.

Sasha is 50 pounds. Rambo is 7 pounds.

This makes for an uneven walk although they both try to pull me along.

This is my guess for the layout. This is 9 main blocks and 4 alternate blocks.

I think the final quilt will be set 5 x 6 main and 4 x 5 alternate in between.

I like how the yellow forms a chain.

I can't wait to see what Bonnie Hunter does with the centers of these blocks! 

Back to Monday Link-Up for Clue 5.

Clue 4 and Christmas/Get Well Quilt

The mystery quilt I'm working on is the Bonnie Hunter 2015 Allietare mystery quilt that she gives clues for on her blog every Friday from the end of November until the final reveal. This week the clue had quite a bit of piecing and TONS of pieces! I have NOT finished the clue yet but I will.

This MIGHT be how these pieces are used but just a guess.

This one set of clue 4.

I'm busy chain piecing.

I've pieced all these reds and now I've got to do the white!

But I did finish this Christmas/Get Well quilt.

The back looks like Christmas lights and presents!

Monday Link Up for Allietare Clue 4.

Clue 3 Allietare--Making Lemonade From Lemons

The 3rd clue for the Allietare Quiltville Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter uses yellow and neutral.

You know the saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." This week I'm making lemonade! Having a loved one in ICU is difficult on the entire family BUT the silver lining is quality time spent with family.

I'm sending a HUGE thank you to all the staff working at the Duke Heart Center.

I met many wonderful nurses and specialists during the week I visited there. Awesome! They all are very competent, compassionate and friendly. Thank you! (And continue the good work, please.)

The 3rd clue for the Allietare Quiltville Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter uses yellow and neutral.

My yellow is also Lemonade. I wasn't completely happy with my other yellow but it was the best available in my local quilt shop. So as I drove home to MD from Duke (Durham, NC) I decided to stop at The Crazy Cousin in Fredericksburg, VA. It's about a mile off Rt 95. I like this yellow better because it's strong!

All cut and ready to sew.

Clue 3 has us making 4 patch units.

This is my lemonade 4 patch. 

See the lemons? See the ice cubes in the white?

Perfect!!

By using only one fabric for each color it makes cutting SO FAST!

Clue 3 is now ready to go in the baggie.

I love looking forward to a new clue each Friday!!

Back to the Mystery Monday Link-Up at Quiltville.

Back to the Finish it Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Clue 2: Allietare

For clue 2 of the Mystery Quilt Allietare by Bonnie Hunter this week we get to use red, white and grey. Since my red fabric is directional I made an equal number of sets with the bees going up, down, left and right. Since I don't know which will look better in the final quilt I chose to do every combination.

Pieces ALL cut and ready to sew.

I left my sets hooked together by thread. That's easier than clips!

Pressing and refolding the chains.

This is clue 2 finished and ready for the baggies.

Monday Link Party for Clue 2 at Quiltville.